Two charged in Stuart theft

The 52-year-old attorney from California lost her aunt and attended the funeral in Stuart, and then her American Airlines flight back west was canceled because of the safety inspections.

But on Thursday afternoon, Lamb's older brother, patrons and restaurant staff became heroes by chasing down a thief who stole her purse, according to Stuart police reports.

Lamb and her brother, Bruce Hoar, were waiting on take-out and sipping iced tea at the bar of Duffy's Sports Grill downtown just before 4 p.m. when a man grabbed her designer purse off the back of her chair and ran.

But the thief didn't know the restaurant's layout and had to jump over a fence to get to his getaway car. By that time, Hoar, 54, was on top of him and about 20 people had surrounded the gold Honda Accord so the driver couldn't leave.

"It seemed like that whole wait staff along with a large number of patrons just ran out," Hoar said. "I'm from New York, and I don't think that would happen. In fact, I know it wouldn't happen. They were just so ticked off by the guy's temerity."

Hoar yanked the suspect, Alexson Basil Key, 34, of Boca Raton, from the passenger side of the car, and Lamb retrieved her purse from his hands, according to reports.

Someone in the crowd managed to grab the driver's keys, but in the mayhem he grabbed them back and drove off, leaving Key to Hoar and the police.

A waitress used a camera phone to take a photo of the license plate, and Stuart police officers traced it to 20-year-old Allan Urbanik's address in Stuart. He was caught on foot by a police K-9 named Cody who tore off Urbanik's pants before he was brought to Lamb and Hoar for identification, according to the report.

"We said, 'Yes, that's him, but where's his pants?' " Lamb said. "I think the dog took a little nip at him and took his pants."

Urbanik was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery by sudden snatching and resisting arrest without violence. Key was charged with robbery by sudden snatching.

Lamb returned to California on Friday, her purse kept closely by her side. She said she is grateful for the quick response of police, patrons, waiters and her big brother.

"Everyone contributed," Lamb said. "It was quite a lot of excitement in the sleepy town of Stuart."